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“You are a brat, Sebastian. Believe me, I can deliver beatings of the kind that will quite put you off kisses if you continue to be a handful.”
Sebastian smiled, responding to the warmth in the words and not the sternness of their actual content. Lucan took the opportunity to repeat his previous orders.
“I want you to drink. And I want you to eat. And then, unfortunately, my little prince, you will have to mount up and ride on those marks I left you.”
“Cruel,” Sebastian observed, even as he began to obey.
He found himself quite thirsty now that he had cried many tears, and hungry too, now that his stomach was not so clenched with anger. He would not have admitted as much to Lucan, of course, but the thrashing had been very good for his temper, and his being as a whole.
It was surprising how quickly his mood had shifted, from sulky anger, to tearful outrage, and then to a very satisfied, very calm state he’d never really experienced before. Lucan made him feel so many things.
He could feel the knight’s eyes on him, more warmth bathing him as his body reacted to nothing but eyesight. He wouldn’t have said such a thing was possible, but he was so sensitive to Lucan, to his every movement, to even his gaze.
Perhaps he could be good for Lucan. And perhaps Lucan might not abandon him. And perhaps there might be something between them. Something that might maybe become something…
“Ow!”
Seb’s more romantic thoughts terminated abruptly as he attempted to mount his horse again. The second his ass hit the saddle, he knew he was in trouble. It was as though every single slash of the switch was being reapplied to his rear all at once.
The sound he made caused his mare’s head to rise up like a giraffe, and for her to take several very swift steps that threatened to knock him off-balance. He gripped the front of the saddle and called out to Lucan, who helped by reeling Seb’s horse closer to his own.
Lucan let out a handsome, knightly laugh. “I told you it would hurt.”
“You were not wrong,” Sebastian grunted, attempting to shift into a less uncomfortable position. There wasn’t one.
6 CAUGHT OUT
Lucan had planned to ride another five hours at least, but Sebastian was truly suffering, and there had been absolutely no sign of anything resembling pursuit, so he took mercy on Sebastian after three hours, spotting a place where there was a clearing past a path, off the main route and somewhat shielded from the road itself.
“There’s no cottage tonight,” Lucan said. “But we have oiled skins which will ward off rain, and we can pitch a tent. It will be much tighter confines. Come and watch me, and help me. You need to know how to create shelter in the wild. If we are ever to become separated…”
“… We must never become separated,” Sebastian said, a look of pure horror flashing over his face. “I cannot live without you.”
The young prince did not want to be alone in the world, Lucan understood that, and the terror on his face struck Lucan deeply. Sebastian was getting attached to him in a way that might very well be the cause of even deeper problems in times to come.
“I have no intention of leaving you, sire, but I am a knight, and knights sometimes fall. I may one day no longer be able to be by your side. Rest assured, I intend to make you strong enough to stand on your own.”
“I will not rest assured,” Sebastian scowled. “Nothing can be allowed to happen to you.”
“Then, your highness, you should consider being more obedient. The less time I have to spend disciplining you, the faster we can make you dangerous to others rather than to yourself.”
“I am doing my best, Sir Lucan,” Sebastian said, rather sweetly. “But I am not… I am not finding this easy. I have not been out of the castle in years. All these open spaces are strange to me. All these trees, and the people, and the cake, and the blood, and the death…” Tears began to well in his eyes even though he was trying his level best to avoid crying. “You cannot leave me,” he choked out with his last bit of coherent bravery.
Lucan’s heart melted for this poor, spoiled little prince.
“I would never leave you if I did not have to. I intend to be by your side for as long as I can be. But I will lay down my life for you at any moment.”
“You shouldn’t,” Sebastian said miserably. “I’m not worth it. Even if I do somehow manage to become king again, I’m still going to be a shameful weakling. I bet Princess Rose is thrilled she doesn’t have to be saddled with me.”
